Measurements of Positive Ion Conversion and Removal Reactions Relating to the Jovian Ionosphere
Abstract
Measured rates are presented for the reaction of He + ions with H 2 (and D 2) molecules to form H +, H 2+, and HeH + ions, as well as for the subsequent reactions of H + and HeH + ions with H 2 to form H 3+. The neutralization of H 3+ (and H 5+) ions by dissociative recombination with electrons is shown to be fast. The reaction He + + H 2 is slow ( k = 1.1 × 10 -13 cm 3/sec at300°K) and produces principally H + by the dissociative charge transfer branch. It is concluded that there may be a serious bottleneck in the conversion of two of the primary ions of the upper Jovian ionosphere, H + and He + (which recombine slowly), to the rapidly recombining H 3+ ion ( α[ H3+]≅3.4 × 10 -7 cm 3/sec at 150°K).
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- October 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(74)90001-3
- Bibcode:
- 1974Icar...23..139J
- Keywords:
-
- Cations;
- Ionic Reactions;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Molecular Collisions;
- Planetary Ionospheres;
- Reaction Kinetics;
- Recombination Coefficient;
- Atmospheric Chemistry;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Atomic Collisions;
- Charge Transfer;
- Helium Ions;
- Hydrogen Ions;
- Ion Recombination;
- Ionospheric Electron Density